Current Events in Asia-Pacific

A Glimpse Into China's Military Presence in the South China Sea (Stratfor)

Shifts in Pacific Force U.S. Military To Adapt Thinking New Plans Reflect Reaction To China's Growing Power By Edward Cody Washington Post Foreign Service Saturday, September 17, 2005; A01 ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- A dull-gray B-2 bomber sat poised in a typhoon-proof air-conditioned hangar, its bat wings stretching 172 feet across. The bomb bay was fitted for 80 GPS-guided bombs, at 500 pounds each, that could be delivered to any target in Asia within a few hours. The hulking stealth aircraft is a symbol of new times in the Pacific. "Having this airplane in theater sends a message to the world," said Air Force Lt. Col. Tom Bussiere, of St. Joh…

[excerpt] Beijing is revealing pictures of its indigenously built J-15 Flying Shark design that is intended to populate the decks of its first aircraft carrier. It comes equipped with large surface area wings (for extra lift at low speeds) that fold (for a small footprint on a crowded aircraft carrier deck), reinforced landing gear (for high, sink-rate landings), a tailhook (for arrested landing on short carrier decks) and a light blue paint scheme to signal its role in the People's Liberation Army’s Navy. Small canards on the nose also are to help lower the landing speed and the tail cone has been shortened to avoid ramp strikes. [/excerpt] Full story

South Korea to Expand Its Air Defense Identification Zone (The Diplomat) S. Korea nears finalization of expanded air defense zone (Yonhap) Possible scenarios for the expansion:

North Korea: Test Stand for Vertical Launch of Sea-Based Ballistic Missiles Spotted (38 North) Is North Korea Developing Sea-Based Ballistic Missiles? (The Diplomat)

North Korea says it's ready to detonate H-bomb, but skepticism abounds (Stars and Stripes)

Taiwan slammed on lax defense By Bill Gertz THE WASHINGTON TIMES September 20, 2005 A senior Pentagon official yesterday sharply criticized Taiwan's government for not moving ahead with an arms buildup to counter a mounting threat from China. Edward Ross, a senior Pentagon security cooperation official, also suggested in a speech that the United States might not defend Taiwan in a conflict with China unless Taipei does more to boost its defenses and national will. "As the lone superpower, our interests are plentiful and our attention short," Mr. Ross said. "We cannot help defend you if you cannot defend yourself." With U.S. troops fighting and dy…

Australia dumps troubled European-designed Taipan helicopters for US Black Hawks and Seahawks https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-10/australia-dumps-troubled-mrh-90-taipan-helicopters/100688550

From DefenseNews Germany Stands Firm on Lifting China Arms Embargo By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, BERLIN German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said in an interview released March 30 that he has no plans to drop his support for the lifting of a European Union arms embargo on China. “I have no intention of changing” my position, he said, as quoted in Die Zeit weekly. Schroeder’s ruling Social Democrats and their junior coalition partners, the Greens, disagree over whether the ban should be lifted on China, which is one of Germany’s major trading partners. Most of parliament opposes his stance and the conservative opposition has also urged him to change tack. …

Singapore Contracts for 2 New German Subs (DefenseNews)

China Military Power 2018 (pdf)

Maybe interesting? Until last week, when the billionaire Paul Allen began tweeting images of deep-sea wreckage — a coral-encrusted anchor, a green valve hairy with algae — the annals of vanished ships contained no entry more mysterious than that of the Musashi, a massive Japanese battleship sunk off the Philippines toward the end of World War II. To call Musashi massive, actually, doesn’t begin to do it justice. It was, and remains, one of the largest battleships ever launched — 70,000 tons of water displaced, with a crew of more than two thousand. Its nine 18.1-inch guns, the largest caliber ever mounted on a ship, were designed to fire 3,000-pound shells at a rang…

Taiwan President Presses for U.S. Subs Deal (DefenseNews)

Improving installations in Yap and other places https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-yap-airfield-upgrades-ace/

From Reuters [excerpt] CV32: One wonders where the Shi Lang and her "air wing" will head on their maiden voyage?

Source: The Korea Herald - http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail...=20120127000919 Teaser: An underwater tug-of-war is intensifying among countries such as China, Russia and the United States in the seas around Japan. A very interesting piece that has some definite scenario potential.

From The Diplomat [excerpt]

India Successfully Tests Indigenous Sub-Launched Missile (DefenseNews)

From Flight International DATE: 03/04/09 SOURCE: Air Transport Intelligence news Japanese carriers change flightpaths to avoid North Korea missile By Leithen Francis Japanese carriers are changing flightpaths to Europe and Hawaii in response to North Korea's planned missile launch later this month. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines (JAL) have announced that all flights to Europe and Hawaii will operate on a different flightpath for the period 4-8 April. This is in response to the planned launch by North Korea, the carriers say. ANA operates to London, Paris and Frankfurt; while JAL operates to Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, Milan and London. Nor…

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt]